[1929] New York Hakoah defeated Madison Kennels of St. Louis 2-0, in the first leg of the National Challenge Cup final at Sportsman's Park in St. Louis. Josef Eisenhoffer and Siegfried Wortmann scored for Hakoah.
Saturday, March 31, 2012
Today in US Open Cup history... March 31
[1929] New York Hakoah defeated Madison Kennels of St. Louis 2-0, in the first leg of the National Challenge Cup final at Sportsman's Park in St. Louis. Josef Eisenhoffer and Siegfried Wortmann scored for Hakoah.
Friday, March 30, 2012
Today in US Open Cup history... March 30
The teams met two weeks later in Detroit for the replay, and played to a 2-2 draw, again after extra time. After the first thirty minutes of extra time, referee Jack Wilson ordered another thirty minutes as he was under orders from the USFA that the match was to produce a winner.
Sparta refused to continue playing, and Wilson awarded the match to Chrysler by forfeit. Chrysler and their supporters thought it was a ploy to avoid losing the match, since they figured the Sparta players were getting tired, and would concede the winning goal.
Sparta filed a protest, stating that since Chrysler were not forced to play an extra thirty minutes in the first match, they had no reason to do so in the replay. The USFA sided with Sparta, and ordered a replay for March 29.
Chrysler then made a request to push back the replay date, arguing that since they had learned of the date a mere four days before, they needed time to get their players off of WWII defense jobs. When the USFA secretary James Armstrong declared in a telegram that a failure to show for the match would "mean forfeiture of the game and also result in further drastic action," Chrysler decided to disband and withdraw from all soccer competitions.
Three days later the Detroit club reconsidered their stance and offered to play the match on April 5, but the USFA ruled that it was too late.
[1924] In front of 14,000 fans at High School Field in St. Louis, the Fall River Marksman defeated Vesper Buick (St. Louis) 4-2 in the National Challenge Cup final. Twice Fall River took the lead only to see Vesper tie the score. It wasn't until Johnny Ried's second half goal that Fall River would take the lead for good, with Harold Brittan scoring in the final minute to put the game away.
[1930] Fall River Marksmen defeat Bruell Insurance of Cleveland 7-2 in the first leg of the National Challenge Cup final at the Polo Grounds in New York. Jimmy McAuley & Werner Nilsen each had hat tricks for Fall River.
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Incentivizing the US Open Cup for casual fans
The Seattle Sounders have made the US Open Cup a must-see competition for fans to attend. Now, the Philadelphia Union may be onto something else that could help bolster support for the event when they make their tournament debut later this spring.
The club has a “Loyalty Rewards” program that awards season ticket holders for just about everything. Obviously, the main portion of the points distributed to fans is for match attendance, but the system also rewards fans for watching road games and attending additional team-related events in the community. The best feature in the program is the variety of points awarded for home matches, rewarding fans that attend games that are midweek and/or against less popular opponents with more points than weekend fixtures against the most popular sides.
Though the story does not specifically mention US Open Cup contests, one would have to expect that if the Union play host to a game in the tournament, its fans would be able to receive a high value in points for going to the midweek contest against what is likely to be a lower division opponent.
Since the club has not qualified for the tournament in its brief history and has a fervent fan base, one would assume that the club would draw well regardless of the presence of the rewards system. However; for the good of the tournament, it is great that a program like this is in place in Philadelphia and being explored by many other teams around the league.
If it is not obvious at this point, I clearly like this program. And, I am glad to hear there is vast interest in it being duplicated around the league, and around the world.
My hope: that it is expanded to a co-operational, multi-national program led by MLS, the USSF and the CSA that includes the lower divisions, the women’s game and, most importantly, communities that do not have professional clubs. There are a lot of casual fans that I think could be converted into more loyal supporters of the game if there was a reason not to shrug off attending a lower division game or international friendly in their own back yard – there are certainly enough empty seats available.
There is no reason why loyal Sounders fans should not also be rewarded for being league fans that watch all MLS matches or attend a game between Chivas USA and FC Dallas at the HDC while in California for a Disney adventure with the kids. Season ticket holders for Toronto FC that attend every game should be able to buy discounted CSA match tickets and people who buy tickets to youth national team friendlies should earn credit toward their favorite pro club.
Sometimes players are forced to choose between club or country – there is no reason why fans should have to do the same.
At the very least, Major League Soccer should develop a league-wide program to drive support of the game nationwide instead of just a handful of the biggest cities. It would certainly be a great way of gauging potential expansion support as well as developing the soccer culture in places that need a boost.
The club has a “Loyalty Rewards” program that awards season ticket holders for just about everything. Obviously, the main portion of the points distributed to fans is for match attendance, but the system also rewards fans for watching road games and attending additional team-related events in the community. The best feature in the program is the variety of points awarded for home matches, rewarding fans that attend games that are midweek and/or against less popular opponents with more points than weekend fixtures against the most popular sides.
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| Reward fans who support both | @FCDallas Facebook |
Since the club has not qualified for the tournament in its brief history and has a fervent fan base, one would assume that the club would draw well regardless of the presence of the rewards system. However; for the good of the tournament, it is great that a program like this is in place in Philadelphia and being explored by many other teams around the league.
If it is not obvious at this point, I clearly like this program. And, I am glad to hear there is vast interest in it being duplicated around the league, and around the world.
My hope: that it is expanded to a co-operational, multi-national program led by MLS, the USSF and the CSA that includes the lower divisions, the women’s game and, most importantly, communities that do not have professional clubs. There are a lot of casual fans that I think could be converted into more loyal supporters of the game if there was a reason not to shrug off attending a lower division game or international friendly in their own back yard – there are certainly enough empty seats available.
There is no reason why loyal Sounders fans should not also be rewarded for being league fans that watch all MLS matches or attend a game between Chivas USA and FC Dallas at the HDC while in California for a Disney adventure with the kids. Season ticket holders for Toronto FC that attend every game should be able to buy discounted CSA match tickets and people who buy tickets to youth national team friendlies should earn credit toward their favorite pro club.
Sometimes players are forced to choose between club or country – there is no reason why fans should have to do the same.
At the very least, Major League Soccer should develop a league-wide program to drive support of the game nationwide instead of just a handful of the biggest cities. It would certainly be a great way of gauging potential expansion support as well as developing the soccer culture in places that need a boost.
Thursday, March 8, 2012
MLS sides open CCL Quarterfinal play
Playing in the tournament courtesy of winning the 2010 edition of the US Open Cup, the Sounders led at the half, 1-0, courtesy of David Estrada despite four starters arriving late due to traffic congestion. Former USL First Division Sounder and US international Herculez Gomez tallied in the second half to equalize the contest only to see Brad Evans struck in the 63rd for a 2-1 lead heading into the second leg.
Toronto FC, however, were unable to hold onto their lead in the earlier of the two contests. Up 2-0 early on goals from Ryan Johnson and Luis Silva in the first 17 minutes, the Canadian club could not hold onto the advantage as the Galaxy roared back. Landon Donovan found Sean Franklin, who whipped a cross to Mike Magee in the 22nd minute. Donovan later struck for the equalizer himself with two minutes remaining.
On the other side of the bracket, defending CCL champion Monterrey won 3-1 on the road versus fellow Mexican side Morelia Tuesday evening. The final first leg quarterfinal contest is Thursday evening as Mexico's Pumas travels to El Salvador to play Metapan.
Monday, March 5, 2012
New York Inter-Giuliana & the 1976 CONCACAF Championship
Check out this story: CD Aguila captures 1976 CONCACAF Champions' Cup
Related Open Cup History
Entrants as the 1975 US Open Cup runners-up, New York Inter-Giuliana were the sixth club to represent the tournament, ending a four-year absence since 1970 champion Elizabeth SC played in the 1971 event.
NYIG faced a Canadian foe in the 1976-77 CONCACAF Championship's opening round, the First Round in the North American Zone. They fell 3-2 in the first leg and again, 2-1, in the return leg for a 5-3 aggregate series loss to Toronto Italia. Toronto, though, would withdraw before playing Mexico's Leon in the NAZ Final, sending the Mexicans onto the tournament semifinals and the dramatic conclusion in which an on-field-fight ended the series.
The club was slated to make a second consecutive appearance in the confederation's championship a year later also as Open Cup finalists. However, the team withdrew from the tournament in which they were slated to play Club America in the North American Zone Final as there were no entrants from Canada. Club America would win that tournament as chronicled in this CONCACAF Retro story: Club America wins first two international titles in 1978
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Friday, March 2, 2012
Backe-tracking On the Open Cup
When New York Red Bulls head coach Hans Backe told New York Post writer Brian Lewis that his club was going to try to win it all this year, including the US Open Cup, many around the metropolis and the nation met it with disbelief. But maybe, just maybe, the coach learned something from last year’s occurrence and is approaching 2012 with a better plan of attack.
If there were any doubts out there, he tried to put them to rest, reiterating Monday on MLSsoccer.com’s Extra Time Radio podcast what he told Lewis.
“We will have much better depth, there’s no question about it. We will have at least 18-20 (solid) players, good footballers,’’ Backe said to Lewis in early February. “Also, now with the new schedule this season, not playing that many games during FIFA dates, we can definitely have a priority with the Open Cup.
“I say we should try to go for it all; the Open Cup, the Shield, the MLS Cup. We have a very good squad this year.’’
That was the shocking statement that incited chuckles. It was hard to believe he would actually say that given his apathetic approach to the quarterfinal against the Fire in which he sent Mike Petke, the third in command, to coach a squad of nearly all reserves in Chicago. While many teams in the past had given half-hearted efforts with reserve players in the lineup, arguably none had so blatantly snubbed the tournament.
Even the post-game report for the team’s site from the league contest before the Open Cup fixture openly flaunted Backe’s lack of concern for the game with the following:
Not a Priority – After the match, attention turned to Tuesday night, when the Red Bulls play the Chicago Fire in the U.S. Open Cup. Backe said that it will be mainly reserves and substitutes in the Starting XI for the quarterfinal match.
“I think we just travel with probably, if were a little bit lucky with no injuries, 13 outfield players and two goalies,” Backe said the story’s writer Kristian Dyer. “And it has to be two of these guys who played today probably as a starter has to be involved in the Cup game on Tuesday.”
The news of Backe’s decision was met with much derision at the time, prompting local writer M.L. Conroy of Once a Metro to say the following: "On Backe's current list of priorities, winning the US Open Cup would seem to rank somewhere behind re-arranging his sock drawer."
And it was not just in New York that the moves were met with discontent. Apparently the Chicago Fire players took the news as a slap in the face as well.
Soccer By Ives writer Anthony Zilis said that “though Chicago coach Frank Klopas didn't offer any comment on the matter, the Fire players definitely had it on their minds.”
"We took it personally," Fire midfielder Patrick Nyarko said after the game. "Before the game we talked about punishing this team, beating them 5-0."
Backe still says that the issue last season was the high number of international fixtures that pulled away many of his players, leaving him with little depth. The plan was to rest his starters, who had played in a 5-0 win over Toronto and 1-0 loss to DC, both at home, on July 6 and 9, respectively, prior to the July 12 Open Cup match. In hindsight it did not prove to make much difference as the club went without a win in their next seven league fixtures (0-2-5) after the 4-0 exit from the US Open Cup, leaving them in danger of not qualifying for the postseason. They would earn the final berth, ironically, over Open Cup finalist Chicago by three points.
On Extra Time, Backe discussed the club’s proactive efforts to build more depth into the roster, telling them they looked much more at USL players for more experience playing competitive soccer to give them better depth. He equated the better depth to better training and thusly better game performances.
Backe also expressed his pleasure over the new format of the MLS schedule that will see his team playing more games against conference opponents, meaning less travel, and a lighter schedule on the international front.
Then came the all-important question: What are his goals – did he want to aim for the Supporters’ Shield or MLS Cup?
And, believe it or not, Backe actually voluntarily led off talking about competing for the US Open Cup.
“I think we will look even for the open cup this year because of the schedule we have and the travels. And suddenly we can definitely try to have that as a priority - the open cup too. I think we would like to go for all of it. I think we just, I think we have still enough talented group to be up there and to compete for the cup shield or the MLS cup. Of course, normally you don’t just win everything, but we need to win something this year - one of these three cups.”
If there were any doubts out there, he tried to put them to rest, reiterating Monday on MLSsoccer.com’s Extra Time Radio podcast what he told Lewis.
“We will have much better depth, there’s no question about it. We will have at least 18-20 (solid) players, good footballers,’’ Backe said to Lewis in early February. “Also, now with the new schedule this season, not playing that many games during FIFA dates, we can definitely have a priority with the Open Cup.
“I say we should try to go for it all; the Open Cup, the Shield, the MLS Cup. We have a very good squad this year.’’
That was the shocking statement that incited chuckles. It was hard to believe he would actually say that given his apathetic approach to the quarterfinal against the Fire in which he sent Mike Petke, the third in command, to coach a squad of nearly all reserves in Chicago. While many teams in the past had given half-hearted efforts with reserve players in the lineup, arguably none had so blatantly snubbed the tournament.
Even the post-game report for the team’s site from the league contest before the Open Cup fixture openly flaunted Backe’s lack of concern for the game with the following:
Not a Priority – After the match, attention turned to Tuesday night, when the Red Bulls play the Chicago Fire in the U.S. Open Cup. Backe said that it will be mainly reserves and substitutes in the Starting XI for the quarterfinal match.
“I think we just travel with probably, if were a little bit lucky with no injuries, 13 outfield players and two goalies,” Backe said the story’s writer Kristian Dyer. “And it has to be two of these guys who played today probably as a starter has to be involved in the Cup game on Tuesday.”
The news of Backe’s decision was met with much derision at the time, prompting local writer M.L. Conroy of Once a Metro to say the following: "On Backe's current list of priorities, winning the US Open Cup would seem to rank somewhere behind re-arranging his sock drawer."
And it was not just in New York that the moves were met with discontent. Apparently the Chicago Fire players took the news as a slap in the face as well.
Soccer By Ives writer Anthony Zilis said that “though Chicago coach Frank Klopas didn't offer any comment on the matter, the Fire players definitely had it on their minds.”
"We took it personally," Fire midfielder Patrick Nyarko said after the game. "Before the game we talked about punishing this team, beating them 5-0."
Backe still says that the issue last season was the high number of international fixtures that pulled away many of his players, leaving him with little depth. The plan was to rest his starters, who had played in a 5-0 win over Toronto and 1-0 loss to DC, both at home, on July 6 and 9, respectively, prior to the July 12 Open Cup match. In hindsight it did not prove to make much difference as the club went without a win in their next seven league fixtures (0-2-5) after the 4-0 exit from the US Open Cup, leaving them in danger of not qualifying for the postseason. They would earn the final berth, ironically, over Open Cup finalist Chicago by three points.
On Extra Time, Backe discussed the club’s proactive efforts to build more depth into the roster, telling them they looked much more at USL players for more experience playing competitive soccer to give them better depth. He equated the better depth to better training and thusly better game performances.
Backe also expressed his pleasure over the new format of the MLS schedule that will see his team playing more games against conference opponents, meaning less travel, and a lighter schedule on the international front.
Then came the all-important question: What are his goals – did he want to aim for the Supporters’ Shield or MLS Cup?
And, believe it or not, Backe actually voluntarily led off talking about competing for the US Open Cup.
“I think we will look even for the open cup this year because of the schedule we have and the travels. And suddenly we can definitely try to have that as a priority - the open cup too. I think we would like to go for all of it. I think we just, I think we have still enough talented group to be up there and to compete for the cup shield or the MLS cup. Of course, normally you don’t just win everything, but we need to win something this year - one of these three cups.”
Monday, February 20, 2012
This Day in US Open Cup History… and the Holiday
Today’s historical look back in time will be a two-parter. First we’ll do the usual ‘This Day’ feature, followed by a look back at the tournament in honor of Presidents Day.
This Day in US Open Cup History:
In 1944, Brooklyn Hispano defeated Eintracht SC 3-0 in the Quarterfinals of their championship tournament campaign. It was an impressive run by Brooklyn Hispano as they won every game in that tournament by shutout with the exception of the Second Round in which they were forced to play two replays to get past local rival Brooklyn Wanders. They opened the tournament with a 4-0 victory against Brooklyn Germans in the Round of 32. The following round the Wanderers took them to a 3-3 stalemate January 23 that continued in a 4-4 extra time draw a week later. On February 6, Hispano finally had the edge, 3-2, when the final whistle sounded, once again in overtime. After two weeks off, it became smooth sailing as they blanked Eintracht to advance to the semifinals, where they posted another 3-0 victory against Kearny Celtic March 5. The Final, May 14, finished as the tournament began with a 4-0 win against Morgan Strasser at the Polo Grounds in New York.
PRESIDENTS DAY
Public observance of the holiday has changed over the years for a day that is still officially a federal holiday for Washington’s Birthday. Since it was unofficially expanded to include Lincoln’s birthday and other applicable presidents in other states, I thought it would be interesting to take a look back in Open Cup regard to who the President of the United States was when the tournament started in 1913-14: Woodrow Wilson. Upon review, I have to say: for a president that is not discussed much, a lot happened before, during and because of his presidency that had long-term effects for the nation.
Woodrow Wilson: The 28th President of the United States was in office for two terms from 1913-1921, serving over the course of the First World War. Prior to becoming President, the Democrat served as Governor from 1911-13 for the state of New Jersey – a hotbed for American soccer at the time.
President Wilson & Sports: Wilson has a few interesting sports facts related to him. He was the first sitting President to attend a World Series game, and also first to throw out the first pitch at a World Series game (1915). He was also an avid cyclist and holds the record among presidents for most rounds of golf, playing over 1,000 rounds, which is almost every other day – the Secret Service even painted the balls black so he could play during the winter on the White House lawn... In an indirect soccer link: Among all the things named after him (and other US Presidents), one is section of a major roadway, the Rambla Presidente Wilson, in Montevideo, Uruguay - the site of the first World Cup in 1930.
President Wilson Facts: In 1929 he was the President issued on the $100,000 bill - the highest ever issued by the United States, though only used as transfers between Federal Reserve banks... He is the only president buried in Washington DC (Washington National Cathedral)... He is the only president to hold an earned PhD and only one to serve in a political office in New Jersey... As president, he nominated the first Jew to the Supreme Court, Louis Brandeis (1916)... During the 1912 election, Wilson was the candidate that was the impetus behind the African American population shifting from Abraham Lincoln' Republican Party to the Democratic Party... Wilson was also a large rationale for the 25th Amendment concerning ‘succession to the Presidency’ due to his struggles with incapacitation during the presidency... In 1914, the US made a declaration of neutrality regarding World War I and he was re-elected in 1916 with a campaign of "He kept us out of war," but war would later be declared in 1917... His first wife Ellen died in August 1914, but he would remarry in 1915... Though Wilson worked to integrate immigrants into the Democratic Party, he had issues due to the Irish-American community's dislike of the UK. They opposed the idea of the US being war allies with the British, but liked that Wilson promised to request Ireland independence only to be disappointed when he reneged at Versailles.
US OPEN CUP DURING WILSON PRESIDENCY
The US Open Cup, then known as the National Challenge Cup, was launched by the new USFA with 40 of the 287 invited clubs taking part. The tournament began in November of 1913 and concluded May 16 the following year with Brooklyn Field Club defeating Brooklyn Celtic, 2-1, at Coates Field (Pawtucket, RI) in front of an approximated 10,000. The club also won the 1913-14 National Association Football League (NAFBL) title and would later join the American Soccer League in 1921 before disbanding in 1924.
The tournament featured only four teams from New Jersey, where Wilson served as governor before becoming president.
Bethlehem Steel were, by far, the dominant team of the tournament during Wilson’s Presidency. They reached the final five consecutive years after Brooklyn FC won the inaugural event. Bethlehem Steel defeated Brooklyn Celtic in 1915 for their first of four championships over that span, also claiming titles in 1916, 1918 and 1919 with Fall River Rovers snaring a title of their own in 1917 to spoil a perfect run. In 1920, Ben Millers won the final National Challenge Cup title of Wilson’s Presidency, defeating Fore River. The Missouri club was the first club to not only host the final, but win the tournament championship outside of the Northeast.
PRE-US OPEN CUP
Whilst Wilson served as governor in New Jersey, two of the three American Cup (mostly clubs from northeast) champions hailed from his state. Paterson True Blues won the tournament for a third time (1896, 1909) in their eighth championship appearance in 1913 - the last edition prior to the National Challenge Cup, though the tournament continued until 1924. The club, established in 1887, disbanded two years later. In 1912, West Hudson Athletic Association became three-time champions of the American Cup (1906, 1908) in the third of four championship appearances. They defeated Paterson True Blues in the final of both of the first two titles they claimed. The 1912 win was the nation's first 'double' as they also won the NAFBL championship.
This Day in US Open Cup History:
In 1944, Brooklyn Hispano defeated Eintracht SC 3-0 in the Quarterfinals of their championship tournament campaign. It was an impressive run by Brooklyn Hispano as they won every game in that tournament by shutout with the exception of the Second Round in which they were forced to play two replays to get past local rival Brooklyn Wanders. They opened the tournament with a 4-0 victory against Brooklyn Germans in the Round of 32. The following round the Wanderers took them to a 3-3 stalemate January 23 that continued in a 4-4 extra time draw a week later. On February 6, Hispano finally had the edge, 3-2, when the final whistle sounded, once again in overtime. After two weeks off, it became smooth sailing as they blanked Eintracht to advance to the semifinals, where they posted another 3-0 victory against Kearny Celtic March 5. The Final, May 14, finished as the tournament began with a 4-0 win against Morgan Strasser at the Polo Grounds in New York.
PRESIDENTS DAY
Public observance of the holiday has changed over the years for a day that is still officially a federal holiday for Washington’s Birthday. Since it was unofficially expanded to include Lincoln’s birthday and other applicable presidents in other states, I thought it would be interesting to take a look back in Open Cup regard to who the President of the United States was when the tournament started in 1913-14: Woodrow Wilson. Upon review, I have to say: for a president that is not discussed much, a lot happened before, during and because of his presidency that had long-term effects for the nation.
Woodrow Wilson: The 28th President of the United States was in office for two terms from 1913-1921, serving over the course of the First World War. Prior to becoming President, the Democrat served as Governor from 1911-13 for the state of New Jersey – a hotbed for American soccer at the time.
President Wilson & Sports: Wilson has a few interesting sports facts related to him. He was the first sitting President to attend a World Series game, and also first to throw out the first pitch at a World Series game (1915). He was also an avid cyclist and holds the record among presidents for most rounds of golf, playing over 1,000 rounds, which is almost every other day – the Secret Service even painted the balls black so he could play during the winter on the White House lawn... In an indirect soccer link: Among all the things named after him (and other US Presidents), one is section of a major roadway, the Rambla Presidente Wilson, in Montevideo, Uruguay - the site of the first World Cup in 1930.
President Wilson Facts: In 1929 he was the President issued on the $100,000 bill - the highest ever issued by the United States, though only used as transfers between Federal Reserve banks... He is the only president buried in Washington DC (Washington National Cathedral)... He is the only president to hold an earned PhD and only one to serve in a political office in New Jersey... As president, he nominated the first Jew to the Supreme Court, Louis Brandeis (1916)... During the 1912 election, Wilson was the candidate that was the impetus behind the African American population shifting from Abraham Lincoln' Republican Party to the Democratic Party... Wilson was also a large rationale for the 25th Amendment concerning ‘succession to the Presidency’ due to his struggles with incapacitation during the presidency... In 1914, the US made a declaration of neutrality regarding World War I and he was re-elected in 1916 with a campaign of "He kept us out of war," but war would later be declared in 1917... His first wife Ellen died in August 1914, but he would remarry in 1915... Though Wilson worked to integrate immigrants into the Democratic Party, he had issues due to the Irish-American community's dislike of the UK. They opposed the idea of the US being war allies with the British, but liked that Wilson promised to request Ireland independence only to be disappointed when he reneged at Versailles.
US OPEN CUP DURING WILSON PRESIDENCY
The US Open Cup, then known as the National Challenge Cup, was launched by the new USFA with 40 of the 287 invited clubs taking part. The tournament began in November of 1913 and concluded May 16 the following year with Brooklyn Field Club defeating Brooklyn Celtic, 2-1, at Coates Field (Pawtucket, RI) in front of an approximated 10,000. The club also won the 1913-14 National Association Football League (NAFBL) title and would later join the American Soccer League in 1921 before disbanding in 1924.
The tournament featured only four teams from New Jersey, where Wilson served as governor before becoming president.
Bethlehem Steel were, by far, the dominant team of the tournament during Wilson’s Presidency. They reached the final five consecutive years after Brooklyn FC won the inaugural event. Bethlehem Steel defeated Brooklyn Celtic in 1915 for their first of four championships over that span, also claiming titles in 1916, 1918 and 1919 with Fall River Rovers snaring a title of their own in 1917 to spoil a perfect run. In 1920, Ben Millers won the final National Challenge Cup title of Wilson’s Presidency, defeating Fore River. The Missouri club was the first club to not only host the final, but win the tournament championship outside of the Northeast.
PRE-US OPEN CUP
Whilst Wilson served as governor in New Jersey, two of the three American Cup (mostly clubs from northeast) champions hailed from his state. Paterson True Blues won the tournament for a third time (1896, 1909) in their eighth championship appearance in 1913 - the last edition prior to the National Challenge Cup, though the tournament continued until 1924. The club, established in 1887, disbanded two years later. In 1912, West Hudson Athletic Association became three-time champions of the American Cup (1906, 1908) in the third of four championship appearances. They defeated Paterson True Blues in the final of both of the first two titles they claimed. The 1912 win was the nation's first 'double' as they also won the NAFBL championship.
Thursday, February 16, 2012
USASA Qualifying Update
DC / Virginia Final
The 2012 DC/Virginia Open Cup Final is this Sunday, February 19 at 2 pm ET. The match features the only two entries from the region, Aegean Hawks and Atletico VA, and will be played at Long Bridge Park in Arlington, VA.
Region IV Deadline Reminder
The registration deadline for the Region IV USASA Open Cup tournament is April 6. Teams interested in participating from the following states are eligible to play in the tournament: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming. The event will be held May 4-6 at a site to be announced.
The 2012 DC/Virginia Open Cup Final is this Sunday, February 19 at 2 pm ET. The match features the only two entries from the region, Aegean Hawks and Atletico VA, and will be played at Long Bridge Park in Arlington, VA.
Region IV Deadline Reminder
The registration deadline for the Region IV USASA Open Cup tournament is April 6. Teams interested in participating from the following states are eligible to play in the tournament: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming. The event will be held May 4-6 at a site to be announced.
Monday, November 21, 2011
Open Cup champ Sounders bumped forward to 2012 CCL Group Stage
Though the Seattle Sounders were unable to turn a great season into multiple championships, the club’s ability to juggle their championship Open Cup campaign with the Major League Soccer season and CONCACAF Champions League proved beneficial when the final whistle sounded for the 2011 MLS season.
By virtue of CCL qualification rules established by US Soccer and MLS, the Sounders were upgraded to automatic Group Stage entrants for the 2012-13 tournament courtesy of the Los Angeles Galaxy winning MLS Cup. The Open Cup champion and MLS Cup runner-up are slated to play in the Champions League Preliminary Round while the MLS Cup and Supporters’ Shield winners are placed into the group phase.
The qualification rules use the order of finish in MLS as the determinant for the alternates should those honors be claimed by the same club. With LA winning both MLS titles, one of the group berths became available. As the runners-up for the Supporters’ Shield the Sounders were advanced onto the Group Stage with the Galaxy.
Real Salt Lake was the first beneficiary of the qualification rules, earning the berth when LA advanced to a semifinal meeting against them. It ensured that either RSL would reach the final or earn the berth via the qualification rules since their opponent had already earned a berth and they were in line per the league’s order of finish. RSL, finalists in the 2010-11 CCL, finished the season third behind the Galaxy and the Sounders, who had also already qualified via the Open Cup.
MLS Cup runners-up Houston Dynamo are the fourth entrant. They fell, 1-0, to the Galaxy Sunday on a late second half tally. It is the third entry into the CCL for the Dynamo, the first team from MLS to reach the tournament Quarterfinals. As Group Stage entrants in 2008, Houston went 2-1-3 to advance to the final eight, falling 4-1 on aggregate to eventual champion Atlante after posting a 1-1 draw at home in the first leg.
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By virtue of CCL qualification rules established by US Soccer and MLS, the Sounders were upgraded to automatic Group Stage entrants for the 2012-13 tournament courtesy of the Los Angeles Galaxy winning MLS Cup. The Open Cup champion and MLS Cup runner-up are slated to play in the Champions League Preliminary Round while the MLS Cup and Supporters’ Shield winners are placed into the group phase.
The qualification rules use the order of finish in MLS as the determinant for the alternates should those honors be claimed by the same club. With LA winning both MLS titles, one of the group berths became available. As the runners-up for the Supporters’ Shield the Sounders were advanced onto the Group Stage with the Galaxy.
Real Salt Lake was the first beneficiary of the qualification rules, earning the berth when LA advanced to a semifinal meeting against them. It ensured that either RSL would reach the final or earn the berth via the qualification rules since their opponent had already earned a berth and they were in line per the league’s order of finish. RSL, finalists in the 2010-11 CCL, finished the season third behind the Galaxy and the Sounders, who had also already qualified via the Open Cup.
MLS Cup runners-up Houston Dynamo are the fourth entrant. They fell, 1-0, to the Galaxy Sunday on a late second half tally. It is the third entry into the CCL for the Dynamo, the first team from MLS to reach the tournament Quarterfinals. As Group Stage entrants in 2008, Houston went 2-1-3 to advance to the final eight, falling 4-1 on aggregate to eventual champion Atlante after posting a 1-1 draw at home in the first leg.
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Wednesday, November 16, 2011
World Cup Qualifying 2012 Dates set for CONCACAF
CONCACAF released the schedule for its third round of FIFA World Cup qualifying, setting the match-ups and dates for the 12 remaining teams split into three groups. The six-match schedule was split into three pairs of games set for June 8-12, September 7-11 and October 12-16.
The qualifying dates will have minimal impact on the 2012 US Open Cup according to the new format of the tournament reported by TheCup.us in which the event will be completed prior to August. The first pair of qualifiers, June 8 and 12, are the lone contests that fall within that window. At least the first three rounds of the US Open Cup are expected to be complete at that time, meaning that MLS participation will have commenced and some teams could already be eliminated.
Slated for a May 15 start, the first four rounds could potentially be complete prior to the first qualifiers if they are held on consecutive weeks. The 2010 tournament is the only time in recent years in which four rounds were played without a break, but the World Cup that year fell during the dates of the first two rounds in which MLS was not participating.
Although the dates for the 2012-13 CONCACAF Champions League have not been announced, the 2012 World Cup qualification dates fall within similar breaks in CCL group play observed in all four previous editions of the tournament. The first two CCL group games would be held before the September 7 and 11 qualifier contests. The next three CCL matches would be played before the final two qualification dates October 12 and 16, leaving one final group contest to determine the CCL Quarterfinals.
Full CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying Schedule [+]
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The qualifying dates will have minimal impact on the 2012 US Open Cup according to the new format of the tournament reported by TheCup.us in which the event will be completed prior to August. The first pair of qualifiers, June 8 and 12, are the lone contests that fall within that window. At least the first three rounds of the US Open Cup are expected to be complete at that time, meaning that MLS participation will have commenced and some teams could already be eliminated.
Slated for a May 15 start, the first four rounds could potentially be complete prior to the first qualifiers if they are held on consecutive weeks. The 2010 tournament is the only time in recent years in which four rounds were played without a break, but the World Cup that year fell during the dates of the first two rounds in which MLS was not participating.
Although the dates for the 2012-13 CONCACAF Champions League have not been announced, the 2012 World Cup qualification dates fall within similar breaks in CCL group play observed in all four previous editions of the tournament. The first two CCL group games would be held before the September 7 and 11 qualifier contests. The next three CCL matches would be played before the final two qualification dates October 12 and 16, leaving one final group contest to determine the CCL Quarterfinals.
Full CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying Schedule [+]
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